Eventually, everyone has to relax – and when we do, someone else's work makes that possible.

They prepare food. They deal cards. They operate resorts, write travel guides, schedule concerts and build trails.

If you’re enjoying your vacation, it might be thanks to a graduate of the Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Management program at West Virginia University.

“The hospitality and tourism industry is definitely growing in West Virginia,” said Teaching Professor Frank DeMarco, who also serves as program coordinator. “Tourism has the best numbers it’s ever had, and it’s continuing to grow. It’s adding a lot of jobs to the industry, and it’s very exciting.”

As the industry expands, WVU's program is expanding with it – and nothing has driven that more than the $7 million gift made in November 2023 by the Hardy family and Nemacolin, a luxury resort located only 45 minutes from Morgantown.

One year later, it’s time to look back on what all that growth has meant, and what it means for our region moving forward.

A History of Hospitality 

Established in 2011 as an area of emphasis in the Management department, WVU's Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Management program began with four students.

Now it has almost 90 – and offers two full-fledged undergraduate degrees, both in-person and online.

“We met the Hardy family when we were first getting started,” DeMarco said. “One of our students went up to Maggie (Hardy, owner and CEO of Nemacolin) and told her she was starting the Hospitality Club. That was one of the first gifts that we received from Nemacolin – an amount to cover a field trip for the students to go up there and get a tour of the property.”

It was the first gift of many.

“Last November's gift will enhance program growth by providing resources such as scholarships, experiential field trips and internship funds, as well as driving awareness for our program,” DeMarco said. “The generosity of this gift allows us the opportunity to grow and promote our program as a viable career pathway for WVU business students.”

Maggie McCarthy, a student in the Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Management program, has taken full advantage of WVU’s partnership with Nemacolin.

“This past summer, I worked at Nemacolin with the conferencing and catering department,” McCarthy said. “I kind of became their on-site contact, which was a really good experience.”

McCarthy’s experience was made possible by internship access funds, which reimburse Chambers College students for the living expenses necessary to hold internships. In 2021, Nemacolin made a $50,000 contribution to the Hospitality and Tourism Program Fund, which has empowered students to intern with hospitality employers in West Virginia, Florida, the Carolinas and elsewhere.

“The biggest transformation, in my experience, was in the Nemacolin Hospitality Lab,” McCarthy said. “I work in the lab with my colleagues, and we help with student consulting projects with industry partners.”

Officially dedicated on Nov. 22, 2024, the Nemacolin Hospitality Innovation and Technology Lab provides resources for students to dig deeper into experiential learning projects. The lab now boasts a fellowship program, the Nemacolin Ambassadors, as well as a faculty director.

“We all go and meet these clients and work with them,” McCarthy said. “I have the confidence to go out into the workforce knowing that I can do these things.

“If I didn’t have the internship experience, or the lab experience, there’s no way I would feel as comfortable as I am applying for jobs. Knowing my potential and what I’ve been able to accomplish as an undergrad has been really cool.”

Learning From the Top

The gift is more than money: it’s a partnership between an educational institution and a world-class industry leader.

“The experiential learning projects that these students get to work on are great,” DeMarco said. “All of our students are being exposed to it, and Nemacolin’s looking at them as somebody they can potentially give a professional advantage. Why not start at the top and learn from the top?”

Just ask Wesley Christy, a senior in the Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Management program who served as an activities intern for Nemacolin.

“The hands-on learning is a big deal to me,” said Christy. “Getting the opportunity to intern with Nemacolin was more valuable for me than writing a paper.

“One thing I’ve learned is to always sweat the little things. Look for the details that can make someone’s day. It can be as small as a friendly, ‘Hi, how are you today?’ It brings more joy to the world.”

All those details add up to a much bigger picture: the professional edge WVU students gain in their careers, wherever they go.

“The opportunities that I have here – there are so many of them,” said Christy, who now works for Nemacolin as a full-time recreation coordinator. “It’s an outrageous advantage.”

Student interns are given the flexibility to work in different departments at Nemacolin – among them purchasing, catering and finance – and discover professional interests they never knew they had. Vice President of Lodging Kory Young calls it “skipping the stone across the pond of hospitality.”

“When we look for interns, we want to make sure that we put them in a position where they can find success,” Young said. “We’re not trying to put them on the moon. We just want to make sure they can understand they’re playing a small role in what will ideally be someone’s lifelong memory.

“For a WVU student to have the opportunity to work at a five-star property and put that on their resume – it opens so many doors in the luxury space. We're just happy to be a part of their growth.”

The Region of Relaxation

As the Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Management program continues to attract students, it will also continue to fill the many hospitality jobs being created in West Virginia.

“Tourism is for real,” DeMarco said. “It’s an economic driver. Whatever we can do to grow the workforce in West Virginia, from entry level up to leadership, we want to be part of that. Helping lead that effort is part of our land-grant mission.”

That growth wouldn't be possible, however, without the support of donors like Maggie Hardy. As the owner and CEO of Nemacolin, Hardy sets the standard for generosity, from guest service all the way to Nemacolin’s partnership with WVU.

That generosity extends beyond the boundaries of Nemacolin and WVU to the entire Appalachian region.

"At Nemacolin, I’m passionate about nurturing the next generation of hospitality leaders," said Hardy. "Our partnership with West Virginia University’s Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Management program is a vital step in that journey.

“By providing students with hands-on experience and opportunities to learn from industry experts, we’re not only helping them build successful careers but also strengthening the hospitality sector in the Appalachian region. The tourism industry is a cornerstone of our local economy, and I’m excited to be part of a program that equips future leaders to drive its growth and make a lasting impact on our community."

That’s what makes it a partnership. A gift can only be given once, but a partnership is forever.

“Every donor is different, but they’re all united by their desire to help our students succeed,” said Milan Puskar Dean of the Chambers College Josh Hall. “Thanks to organizations like Nemacolin and leaders like Maggie Hardy, our students are going to thrive – and our state will too.”